From the book blurb, I thought Debutante would be a frothy manners novel, with some social backstabbing, romance, and pretty dresses. And this is how the novel starts. Eligible young women from established families (or from rich families with social aspirations) will be presented to the queen to begin their Season of competition fashion, upscale social events and serious husband-hunting.

The season ends with the beginning of World War 2, and the book changes, by degrees, into a story of how these four girls survive the war. The debs take up high-class, voluntary work at first, but as the war gets closer to home, these lighter jobs disappear. The girls' hobbies as debs -- speaking foreign languages, driving a motorcar, etc. -- turn into essential skills in the war efforts. Money and privilege can't protect them from the horrors of war, and although the book started as a social drama, it doesn't hold back.

I particularly liked how the four girls grew over the course of the novel. Their goals and priorities changed quite a lot over the years, but their underlying personalities didn't. ( )

Historical fiction of four girls who meet during the last London season before the war. They are all from different social backgrounds, but when war breaks out as the season ends, they find themselves all drawn into war work with their lives still intersecting as the war drags on. Well researched and well written. ( )